Ireland the "Hong Kong of Europe"?

Came across this article from The China Daily and the headline itself was enough to raise my eyebrows? I am not sure what to think of the chairman of Ireland China Association commenting on Ireland as "Hong Kong of Europe".

I have no inkling of the situation with the financial centre in Dublin, albeit a big dent from recent shenanigans from buffoons and politicians wrecking our economy leaving citizens to pick up the pieces with whatever saving they have or have not left. I have been told reinsurance companies are thriving here, the tech industries as well.

It's good to see that Ireland is promoting its own dairy produce to China, there's certainly a demand for it. Education and tourism was also mentioned, the former has been on the increase, and the latter is something of a floodgate awaiting to be opened, especially after Vice-President Xi Jinping's only EU-country visit.

Even with all the huge potential, trying to picture Ireland as the "Hong Kong of Europe"... it still has a long ways to go yet.